These are the various Project SWORD metallic/ chromed clones.
About 15 years ago Dennis Nicholson sent me some photo's of a his friend Kelly Lannan's beautiful and unique metallic gold Task Force 3. I have wondered about it ever since. Is it a knockoff or is it a colour variant from Tarheel? There is no maker's mark or number on the undercarraige so no clues there.
In 2011 Bill kindly photoshopped a dome into place for me and we can see what it looked like completed below. I have inserted John Eaton's latest fabulous pictures of the new silver Task Force 3 for comparison. What differences can you see?
Bill B mentioned that he had owned a rare metallic blue Task Force 1. We were treated to an Ebay picture of Bill's toy - below - yesterday and also when the blog first launched. Could this be related to the two metallic silver/ gold Task Force 3's we now know of? Was it carded? Some evidence of all of them having backing cards came in Patron Zero's comment on the blog in 2014 here.
Daydreaming further I have photoshopped two of the loose toys together into the same shot to help you decide yourselves. I have added a Tarheel logo simply as garnish, no other reason. If all of the metallic SWORD toys are related then the next question is whether there is a metallic Task Force 2 as well? The mind boggles! What do you think readers?
and yep, here's Task Force 2 chromed as well, missing its dome!
I'm certain there's a silver chromed Task Force 1 on the blog but can I find it! It would complete the silver trio! ADDENDUM: Here it is courtesy of Paul Vreede's SpaceX Toys website:
As to whether these beauties are American Tarheel toys I'm still not sure. You?
If you have one or any of these then pictures please!
When I was younger there was a line of the smaller spaceX toys sold in our local pharmacy. They were the same as I have seen on the blog except for the chrome plating in various colors.
ReplyDeleteThey sold for pocket money and had odd names, like "Phantom Romain" that didn't make any sense even to us kids
I don't remember any of the original SpaceX line from those days.
Interesting, especially the names. Any other names you recall? Where they these chrome toys? https://www.triangspacextoys.info/SpGAderv/FUTR/FutrCpPg.html
DeleteThe easy answer would be that all these TF sightings in metallic colours belong to that ultra rare Space Rocket series. Even though the font type of the numbering on the toys is the same as in Tarheel TFs, this seems like a whole different release altogether.
ReplyDeleteYou might be into something Arto.
DeleteI rather think they were a knock off of some sort. Some of the names had the name "Phantom" and they were rather cheap. We thought they were cool but they only lasted a short time.
ReplyDeleteFascinating. So cheap SpaceX metallic knockoffs?
DeleteThere’s something about a knock-off. A riff on the original, like the follow up to a hit song, it has its own special character, even where it tries to mimic the prototype. Me, I love ‘em. SFZ
ReplyDeleteMe too!
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